Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-21
SECOND BIENNIAL MESSAGE
Jeremiah M. Rusk.
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN.
To the Honorable, the Legislature:

are grStlfylng IN the extreme. Nhle thus con
graduating you upon our material progress, il is
with deep regret that am compelled to report,
that during the past year the peace of our State
has, in a few instances. been interrupted by
strikes and IiotS of greater ms gnitude, OF more
violence, and farther reaching in their conSe-
Quences, than ever before. In this connection.
you are reminded that il viii be your duty, as
legislators, to look carefully into the causes of
these troubles, and wherein our laws for the pre-
trntion Of wrong-doing, or the punishment of
wroug-doers, found 10 be defective, it viii be
your duty to perfect them by such new legislation
as recent experience and reasonable anticipationS
tor the future may indicate to be required While
tour own intelligence, aided by your inveStiga-
uons and discussions, WILL have 40 doubt, lead
Eou 10 a satisfactory solution Of all the problems
Involved in this subject. yet may be indulged in
a few suggestions, which hope will not be found
either impeachment or uuwarranted.
The discussion of the labor and capital ques-
ton has become so extensive, has taken such
wide range, and is being participated in by so
many people, representing such a diversity of
views and interests, that it is not strange II, at
this stage of the discussion, there is more con-
fusion than clearneSs OF thought upon ii. To
eliminate from all this confusion and controversy
what is essential concrete and practicable and in
accord with those principles of justice upon
which all good government is founded and EN-
body it in effective law, Is no light nor trivial
task.
It seems TO me that very important-I might
say, vital-fact in this great agitation has so far
been almost lost sight of, namely: That a large
majority of the people OF every city and every
State where the labor troubles have existed, and
an overwhelming majority OF the whole people,
not directly parties TO the controversy at ALL
The contention is between employees and employ
ers, and both classes combined are but a minority
fraction of the whole people, whose peace and
interests are interrupted and their rights violated
by these unseemly and unnecessary disturbances:
1t is the right and duty of the peope-that is, Of
the great majority-to step in and say not only
let us have peace" but I'VE will have peace,
end through the law and lawfully constituted
authorities to see to it that we do have peace,
and that disturbers are promptly and properly
punished.
In a few communities, comparatively, there are
large bodies OF workmen, or laborers, who volun-
tariy choose to work for others, for wages These,
by general usage, are called y" workinSmen, bur
they are not the only workingmen - not the only
laborers in the country. The great majority of
our people are workers. with hands or brain, or
both, and to all such belongs equally the proud
title of laborer. But farther, majority of the
whole number who do manual productive labor,
employ. themselves, plan for themselves,
product of their labor TO themselves, and
find market for their surplus when and as
they can. This great independent. self-reliant
majority is the bone and Sinew, the pride and
glory of good citizenship. Among them there
are no strikes riots, no interference with the
their rights and their interests should be jeopar
died by the restless contentious of small mi
nority, who ridiculously assume that they are the
only ldborers of the country, is a wrong TOO man
fest TO be much longer endured. IL the parties
to these ever-recurring disturbances cannot find
way of amicably settling their disputes they
will at least protect the peace and dignity of a
civilized commonwealth.
In indicating that some additional legislation
may be required touching the rights of laborerS
of all classes and their mutual relations 30 eact
other, only the most prominent fundamental prin
ciples OF natural liberty and popular government
need be alluded to.
1t has already been assumed that whsre a per
son employs himself and works on his own prem
ises, and on his own material with his own tools
the product of his labor is all his own to do VIII
MS That
full enjoyment of all the fruit of his judgment,
labor and skill, it does not require argument tC
convince us. 1t is self-evident. But where one
person engages to work for another, on anothers
premises and material, and with anothers tool:
or machinery, it is equally clear that the r.otuc
belongs to the employer; the workman clam
ends with the receipt of his stipulated wages. Tht
States duty and province in such cases is simply
t. maintain individual rights and enforce The
work for himself, or for any one else on sucl
terms as he may choose to make, must be main
tanned at all hazards. He who mterferes witt
this principle, tramples upon the most sacred q
human rights and upon consecrated principle o.
American liberty.
Government should not be-indeed cannot af
ford to be-indifferent to the welfare of any clas
OF citizens; and it is special duty to protect tn,
poor and weak against any possible aggression o.
| the rich and strong. To this end, all the rlght
| and interests of workingmen of the wage classes
| should be jealously guarded against injustice o.
| oppression at the hands Of their employers. Cor
poranoLs, created by authority OF the State, tina
ployers of labor, that from the nature OF thel
business and their charges for service may largely
effect the value of the product of labor GENERALLY
TO the producer must be held to a strict and JUS
accountability, and be subject always to the con
| troll and regulation Of the state
| With those agrarian and socialistic theories o
| fanciful society that deny the right OF privat
| property or of each individual to full protection
| In the enjoyment and control of all his Lawful
| earnings whether obtained by his own labor 0
| by contract, we can have no sympathy. The.
are as un- American monarchy, and as treason
| able secession. They contemplate the destruc
| ton OF both justice and liberty, and would accom-
| plish the destruction of both if their application
| to existing society were seriously attempted. w
| are not prepared, as American citizens, to eve
| consider change in our form of government
! Republican institutions and individual liberty &
| hand in hand, and must be and will be loyall
| maintained.
! The finances of the state in satisfactorl
| condition. No tax has been levied upon the coun
! penses of the State government In the previou
two years a tax was levied and collected from tn
several counties amounting to 5000, 6G4.45, TO
| State purposes. Notwithstanding the large az
| preparations made by the last legislature
| amounting to about $500, 600, all of which cam
| out of the General fund, there remained ba
period, September 3o 1885, as shown by the re
| port of the Secretary Of State, of SIS, cS9 6
! These appropriations and the expenses Of tn
tax upon the counties. The report of the Secre
| tary of State furnishes a detailed statement c
the receipts and disbursements or the severf
| funds and the cost Of maintaining the State GOV
| ernment. Unless the Legislature shall make &C
| dtional appropriations, above the ordinary e1
penses of the Legislative, Judicial and Executiv
| Departments no necessity will exist for Prov
ing for any tax levy for the next two years.
! TRUST FUNDS.
| The productive School fund, OF the Both day c
| September, 1886, amounted to S297S, Al. an
| there to the credit of the fund, in the Treas
! h. 49, Vha SRh fsTl finn
| income for the biennial period was 1855, ,s9O. Q
including the one mill tax, amounting to siSs
1884, and was apporuoned TO the several coui
ties upon the number Of children OF school age.
The productive University fund, bearing int
est, on the 30th day of September. 1886 arnounte
to $3.50, ,998 35, and the balance on hand 10 II
credit Of the fund, on that day, was 81, ,552 ]
The University fund income, for the bieani;
| period, amounted TO $214 020.Sf.
| The Agricultural College fund, bearing interes
| on the Both day of September. 1886, was S25s
| 5T74, and the balance on hand in the treasur
was $3s .753.0l. The Agricultural College fund II
come was s., soo.si for the two wears.
The productive Normal School fund. on the 30t
day Of September, 1886, amounted 10 s., ,396, 749
and the balance in the treasury, on the same da,
| was Sc, a. The total Normal School fund il
come for the two years was $2Oo,1744; al {
| which Was passed into the treasury or the No
| NAL SchoCi Board
The receipts Of the Drainage fund, for the biel
| NAL period. were $50 5000. and the balance
the credit Of thai fund, September 30, 1886, wa
SIS 2ss 80. There was apportioned TO counti'
| during this period, 3720 as provided Q
| law. Under the act Of 1875. providing Tor the al
pointmen. Of an agent TO expedite the settlemei
| OF claims against the general government ufdt
the swamp land grant, / appointed Geerge y
| state for about twenty thousand acres of lem
and cash amounting to f36sO bin Is now o
| fore Congress which, should it become law, vi
| give the State about $4,000 additional
| The st. Croix and Lake Super ior Railroad Tr.
| pass fund has been about all closed up and pal
over to the benenciaries entitled thereto. unds
| the legislation heretofore enacted There remain
stands upon the books Of the Secretary OF Stat
the sum of 81 0s7 46. All OF this Gum has bee
retained for trexpass that has been commute
upon lands claimed by tire State as swamp.
| The disbursements from the Governor 9 Contil
gent fund to December 81, 1885. were $2.o7s2
| and the balance to the credit Of the fund on ths
day was 81. .e5s.2l recommend the usual appr'
priation Of 5000 Per year
AccorSr vr1H THE eEsERAL GovERsxEsr
Ihave the pleasure Of reporting to the Legisl'
ture that all OF the account known as the war Ia
levied against the State OF Wisconsin. amountin
20 $5i9. .sSs g. has been paid. and that the Unite
States owes upon the settlement. TO the State
| Wisconsin Sc 4os g. and some os the cd claim
are Sill pending upon which II is hoped TO receis
additional allowances When assumed the q.
ties OF Executive there was sas .eS- Is standin
GxninSt the State This amount has been paid b
credits which we're allowed the State upon th
read;ussmsnt Of our Claims against the generi
government Tor war purposes, for swamp ian
indemnity. and for Eve per centurn Of the sales
The whole amount Of the war tax in my tud,
rnsnt- should b refunded to the several State
measure b nov pending before Congrsss 70 n
have paid. and crediting sach a. have not pait
u this should pas, Wisconsin viii receive $40
6ee-s7, ous Ok which the school and swamp lan
yers~d from thnse funds, and ths balance pal
izfo the geneRL fund would recommend tha
thG LegislAtare msnorialse Csnsrsss to pas ra'